It is part of a series of SurvivalBlog 20th Anniversary update re-posts, in recognition of the fact that the majority of readers did not join us until recent years.

I often stress that a key to survival is not what you have, but rather what you know. (See my Precepts of Rawlesian Survivalist Philosophy web page.) In part, I wrote:

Skills Beat Gadgets and Practicality Beats Style. The modern world is full of pundits, poseurs, and Mall Ninjas. Preparedness is not just about accumulating a pile of stuff. You need practical skills, and those only come with study, training, and practice. Any armchair survivalist can buy a set of stylish camouflage fatigues and an M4gery Carbine encrusted with umpteen accessories. Style points should not be mistaken for genuine skills and practicality.

To expand on those precepts, consider the following:

Balanced logistics are important for everyone, but absolutely crucial for someone that is on a tight budget. If you have a three-year food supply, then a quantity miscalculation for one particular food item will likely be just an inconvenience. But if you only have a three-month supply, then a miscalculation can be a serious hazard. Be logical, systematic, and dispassionate in your preparations. You need to develop some detailed lists, starting with my "List of Lists" spreadsheet. Be realistic and scale your retreat logistics purchasing program to your budget. Avoid going into debt to "get prepared." A friend of mine who was a Physician's Assistant went way overboard in 1998 and 1999, stocking up for Y2K. The massive credit card debt that he racked up eventually contributed to a prolonged mental depression and his eventual suicide. May he rest in peace.

Choose your retreat location wisely. If you can't afford 40 acres, then be sure to pick the right 5 acres or 10 acres. Finding a property that adjoins public land, and/or property with like-minded neighbors, can make a huge difference. The smaller your land-buying budget, the longer your search should be, to get the most for your money.

In today's uneven real estate market, don't overlook the possibility of finding a foreclosed ("bank-owned") farm or ranch at a below-market price. Watch the foreclosure listings in your intended retreat region closely. Two websites that I recommend for finding foreclosed properties are ForeclosureRadar.com and Zillow.com. (At the latter, type in the word "foreclosure" as a keyword under the "More" tab.  By the way, the other keyword that I like to use at Zillow is "gravity" to find properties with gravity-fed spring water.)